Container for eggs and method of assembly with egg-containing fillers



Sept. 25, 1956 w. J. sc RTFEGER 2,764,334

CONTAINER F0 GGS METHOD OF ASSEMBLY WITH ERS G-CO NING FILL Filed Sept. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S p 1956 w. J. SCHWERTFEGER 2,764,334

CONTA ER FOR EGGS AND METHOD OF A WITH EGG-CONTAINING FILLER 2 Sheets-Shea Filed Sept. 18. 1952 United States Patent CONTAIN-ER FQR EGGS NE'EHGD- tSEMBLY FILLE'RS Walter J. Schwertfeger, West Englewood, N. J. Application September I8, 19 52',SerialNo; 310,225 4 Claims. (Cl. 2'29-'29) This invention relates to molded pulp containers-adapted to protect fragile articles, particularly-eggs, in the retail packaging of such articles and to the method of packaging said containers with eggs.

The characteristic of the present invention is a carton having the combination with a filler, generally of molded pulp formation, of an open-end carton co-acted with the filler so that the carton and filler in conjunction protect the eggs within the filler and carton from vertical stresses upon the latter, lateral stresses being resisted by the filler itself. The method of assembling the fillers, containing a pre-determined number of eggs and the carton, requires a special method, also a subject of the invention.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a suitable filler for containing one dozen eggs.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a filler disposed in a carton and taken on the line 22 of the filler shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a carton.

Fig. 4 is a view, somewhat in plan, showing the blank from which the carton at Fig. 3 is made.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view in perspective showing three cartons in position and pusher means for moving three egg-containing fillers into the cartons whilst the springy flanges carried by top wall pressure-resistant bars are temporarily displaced to enable insertions of the eggcontaining fillers.

Referring to the drawings and Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a form of filler suitable to be used in the invention, and customarily made of molded pulp, is formed with two longitudinal rows of relatively deep pockets, each row having six pockets, each pocket being adapted to receive an egg which in Fig. 2 is indicated by the dotted lines 2. Each pocket is faced at its four corners with upwardly rising posts 3.

It will be seen that running longitudinally at the center of the filler are, in the embodiment shown (Fig. 1), five posts and two outermost half-posts. The carton is of such form that at its top two inwardly projected pressure-resisting bars 4 downwardly extend to engage the said center line of posts and resist pressure upon the top wall of the carton, for protection of the eggs within the filler. In a preferred form of the invention the said bars 4 are formed with springy, normally inclined flanges.

In the structure of Figs. 2 and 3, the carton top inwardly projecting bars are shown at 4 and the flanges at 5.

When the blank of Fig. 4 is formed into a carton, it will be as illustrated in inverted position in Fig. 3. The bars 4 will be fastened together. For example, they may be glued into mutual contact and the springy flanges 5 will lie at an angle as shown in the said figure. When the filler, containing eggs, is inserted into such carton, the composite bar structure formed by the elements 4,

. ,2 1 will be ready to bear upon the tops oft-heposts-Bpnd the flanges will extend laterally as shownin Fig. 2. Thus pressure upon the top of the -carton willv be resisted by; the :bars 4 and posts v3) and [the eggs will be. protected since they are spaced by the filler from the base oft-he cartonand also from the sides-thereof asa-shownzimsaid Fig.2.

The movement of egg-containing fillers into the can ton may be in the manner indicated in Fig. 5 wherein the ,postsof the filler are indicatediby dotted lines-atifi'. A plurality of empty cartons-having rectangular cavities are shown as having been movedby the pusher element 9 into position inside by side-relationship on a table-'19; Thereupon a second pusher 11. in front of which are placed three fillers, each containing eggs, are moved. simultaneously .into thecavities of the plurality .of cartons. The pusher :11 actuated by the piston rods :12 rcarriesafingers 13 slightly in advance of the fillers abutting the front face of the said pusher 11. As the pusher 11 is moved forwardly, the fingers 13 will engage the flanges 5 and the said springy flanges which normally will ride at a downwardly extending angle, will be moved upwardly and out of the way of the central line of posts 3 on the fillers, as the latter, containing eggs, are moved into the carton. When the cartons are filled the pistons and actuaters 9X for pusher 9 operate to move the filled cartons to the left and to a suitable station which may be an endless belt (not shown) for carrying the cartons. Preliminary thereto the pusher 11 will be retracted, awaiting a fresh supply of side by side fillers with eggs contained therein.

Referring back to Figs. 3 and 4, I may provide in the bot-tom wall of the carton one or more I-cuts 14 so that two opposed tongues at each cut may be pressed inwardly to a holding position intermediate opposed posts 3 of the filler in order that the latter may be locked against premature outward movement.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form of the elements, other than in the embodiments shown and described, without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A carton and filler combination consisting of a molded pulp filler within the carton, said filler being formed with two rows of egg-receiving pockets and a row of upwardly projected posts intermediate said pockets, said carton consisting of a sheet of paper board folded to form a bottom wall, side walls and opposite top wall sections, the inner end of each top wall section merging into at least one inwardly and downwardly extending pressure-resisting bar, the bars being in a mutual abutment, and each bar terminating in a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange, the abutting bars lying immediately over at least one of the posts and bearing on said post in resistance to pressure placed upon the top of the carton.

2. A carton and filler combination consisting of a molded pulp filler within the carton, said filler being formed with two rows of egg-receiving pockets and a row of upwardly projected posts intermediate said pockets, said carton consisting of a sheet of paper board folded to form a bottom wall, side walls and opposite top wall sections, the inner end of each top wall section merging into an inwardly and downwardly extending pressure/resisting bar of the same length as the wall section, the bars being in a mutual abutment, and each bar terminating in a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange, the abutting bars lying immediately over the posts and bearing on said posts in resistance to pressure placed upon the top of the canton.

3. A method of assembling fillers containing rows of eggs and cartons which enclose the fillers, comprising forming a plurality of cartons by folding, for each carton, a. sheet of paper board to form a bottom wall, side walls and opposite top wall sections, folding the inner end ofeach top wall section to form at least one inwardly and downwardly extending pressure-resisting bar terminating in a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange, bringing said bars into mutual abutment, constructing a plurality of fillers, each being formed with two longitudinal rows of pockets and a longitudinally extending row of posts intermediate said pockets, assemblingin face to face position said plurality of cartons, filling an equal number of said fillers with eggs, moving said egg-containing fillers into registry with said cartons, simultaneously engaging and moving said flanges upwardly out of inclined position, and projecting the said fillers into the said cartons.

4. Apparatus for providing an assembly of cartons and fillers containing rows of eggs enclosed within said cartons, comprising a plurality of open end cartons, each of said cartons having a top wall section having at least one inwardly and downwardly extending pressure-resisting bar terminating in a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange, a plurality of egg-containing fillers, means for positioning said open end cartons in side by side re- 'lationship, a pusher member adapted to simultaneously engage and move said plurality of fillers int-o registry with said cartons, and a plurality of fingers carried by said pusher member, one finger being provided from each filler, and each said finger being adapted to engage and move out of inclined position the said carton flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,877 Browne July 15, 1919 1,673,014 Morrison June 12, 1928 1,780,264 Koppelman Nov. 4, 1930 2,074,160 Bergstein Mar. 16, 1937 2,423,756 Chaplin July 8, 1947 

